text:
Official: Human trafficking probe at Saudi diplomat's home
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal authorities are investigating a potential case of human trafficking at the suburban Washington home of a Saudi diplomat, officials said Wednesday.
Authorities were called Tuesday afternoon to an upscale neighborhood in McLean, Virginia, where they "removed two potential trafficking victims," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Brandon Montgomery told CNN.
A State Department official said the McLean house is the home of the Saudi military attaché.
The case is under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within ICE.
The two women, who are from the Philippines and currently work at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, claim they were mistreated, according to the State Department official.
The women are charging, according to a different State Department official, that the Saudi attaché kept their passports, made them work extremely long hours and did not pay them. The source said they had not seen anything to indicate the women were physically harmed.
The official also pointed out these allegations are similar to several other cases they heard from domestic workers who work for diplomats from the Persian Gulf.
According to ICE, cases like this are very "victim-centric," meaning that once there is "confirmation of suspicions," authorities immediately go in and remove the victim and then begin the investigation.
There was no word on the identity of the Saudi diplomat who lived there.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
CNN's Dan Merica contributed to this report.


text:
Big L '98 Freestyle
[Big L]
One-two, one-two
Kinda tired..
Big L, 'bout ta.. get into some shit
Aight check it out
Yo, fuck all the glamours and glitz, I plan to get rich
I'm from New York and never was a fan of the Knicks
And I'm all about expandin my chips
You mad cause I was in the van with your bitch
with both hands on her tits
Corleone hold the throne, that you know in your heart
I got style, plus the way that I be flowin is sharp
A while back I used to hustle, sellin blow in the park
Countin G stacks and rockin ice that glow in the dark
Forever - hottie huntin, trigger temper I'm quick to body somethin
You lookin at me like I'm probably frontin
I fuck around and throw, three in your chest and flee to my rest
I'm, older and smarter this is me at my best
I stopped hangin around y'all, cause niggaz like you
be prayin on my downfall, hopin I flop
Hopin I stop, you probably even hope I get locked
or be on the street corner with a pipe, smokin the rock
I got more riches than you, fuck more bitches than you
Only thing I haven't got is more, stitches than you
Fuckin punk, you ain't a +Leader+ what? Nobody +Follow-ed+ you
You was never shit, your mother shoulda swallowed you
(Mmmm.. WHOO!) You on some tagalong flunkie yes man shit
Do me a favor, please get off the next man dick
And if you think I can't fuck with whoever, put your money up
Put your jewels up, no fuck it put your honey up
Put your raggedy house up nigga, or shut your mouth up
before I buck lead, and make a lot of blood shed
Turn your tux red, I'm far from broke, got enough bread
And mad hoes, ask Beavis I get nuttin Butt-head
{*laughter*} My game is, vicious and cool
Fuckin chicks is a rule
If my girl think I'm loyal then that bitch is a fool
How come, you can listen to my first album
and tell where a lot of niggaz got they whole style from?
(YEAH!) So what you actin for?
You ain't half as raw, you need to practice more
Somebody tell this nigga sum'un, 'fore I crack his jaw
You runnin with boys, I'm runnin with men
I'ma be rippin the mics until I'm a hundred and ten
Have y'all niggaz like, "Damnit this nigga done done it again"
I throw slugs at idi-ots, no love for city cops
I sport a pretty watch, eight-hundred and fifty rocks
I'm makin wonderful figures
I don't fuck with none of you niggaz
I might pull out this gun on your niggaz
and rob every last one of you niggaz
[Bobbito] YEAHHH! (What?)
[Big L] I'm TIRED
[Bobbito] For somebody tired, that wasn't, that wasn't too bad!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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When arriving to the Transfer Station notify the check-in agent to coordinate placing the object outside the "Scrap Metal" bin or request assistance placing inside the "Scrap Metal" bin. This ensures that materials are left in a coordinated location, allows for proper traffic flow, and follows safety procedures.
Show All Answers
Every user of the Transfer Station is required to stop to ensure that all vehicles entering the Transfer Station are doing so at a safe speed.
The Transfer Station check-in agent will perform the following:
The Waste Connections staff present at the Transfer Station is present to assist the Transfer Station users in disposing of their waste and also to ensure the safety of the Transfer Station users.
Although recyclables currently are free to dump at RIRRC, the Town still incurs a cost for the transportation of recyclables to the RIRRC recycling facility in Johnston, RI. That cost is offset by the sticker cost.
Trailers are not allowed in part due to increased likelihood of dumping of yard waste derived from commercial businesses as well as to mitigate concerns over ongoing damage to "the shed" from trailers.
Per the "Transfer Station Application Rules and Regulations" document, the use of a pickup truck does not allow for the hauling of 'truckloads' of Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris or Asphalt, Brick, Concrete (ABC) without the purchase of a 'large load' (over 32 gallons) permit for $75 at Town Hall.
Seasonal residents that reside in Portsmouth less than half the year will have their vehicles registered in their state of primary residence. In addition, Portsmouth is the temporary home to many of our military personnel. Residents falling in either one of these categories satisfy the "residency requirement" and are eligible to apply for a Transfer Station sticker.
The Transfer Station staff is charged with ensuring that all materials coming into the Transfer Station are placed into its correct container. A failure to correctly divert all materials that can be diverted and the contamination of recyclables directly lead to a higher cost borne by all users of the Transfer Station.
Per the accepted bid during the 2017 selection process, each additional contracted employee to cover all the hours of operation of the Transfer Station would cost $85K annually:
To allow for maximum flexibility and offer a competitive price, the town contracts out the residential solid waste/recycling/diversion items per the triennial bidding process. The last bid was accepted in late 2017.
RIRRC asks for cardboard to be flattened (cut down pieces to less than 3 feet by 5 feet by 1 foot).
In addition, to allow the RIRRC Single Stream recycling machine to more efficiently process recyclables, RIRRC requests paper to remain flat (i.e., do not bunch up into balls), and to keep paper sheets intact (i.e., do not rip up into tiny pieces).
Sensitive documents can be disposed of at community "Shred-it" events held periodically throughout the year.
Insurance requirements of the town do not allow us to have scavenging of any material at the Transfer Station. This includes the "Give and Take" area.
Safety is a top priority and so it was decided to correct this potential safety issue of folks exiting their vehicles and walking around the Transfer Station. Additionally, this contributes to traffic backup.
We do ask that if someone has something they would want to reuse that they donate it to a local charitable organization or give away free via the private Facebook group "Aquidneck Island Families Sell and Swap," the free section of Criagslist.org, or to charitable organizations, of which several examples are listed below:
The PAYT town bags can be recycled via the plastic bag "Restore" program available at multiple local retailers or they can be given to a grateful fellow resident. The PAYT town bags themselves are not to be placed in the Single Stream recycling "pit" as they will cause issues with the Single Stream sorter at RIRRC. The PAYT town bags are made up of 30% recyclable material.
The producer of PAYT bags, Waste Zero, only sells the bags in bulk quantities to retailers, so the Town is unable to keep a few boxes either at Town Hall or the Transfer Station to sell individual boxes or bags.
The best way to generalize the Transfer Station Sticker and the PAYT bag revenue is that the annual stickers cover the fixed costs (overhead, personnel, etc.) while the PAYT bags cover the variable costs (transportation and tipping fees).
In an effort to reduce the sticker price for those residents who generated smaller amounts of trash, the PAYT program was adopted where all Transfer Station users paid a lower base price and the remainder of the per user cost was applied via a progressive funding mechanism – the households that generated more solid waste would pay more akin to a utility bill. PAYT bag revenue is a funding mechanism and is simply a way to help spread the cost of trash disposal in a fairer way.
In summary the PAYT bags serve two important purposes:
ECONOMIC: The Town receives the majority of the monies earned from the sale of every bag and this money is automatically deposited for the Town and enters into the Town's Transfer Station Enterprise Fund. This money, along with the money from the sale of Transfer Station stickers, helps fund the cost of operating the Town Transfer Station including but not limited to transportation costs and RIRRC "tipping fees" paid per ton of solid waste.
ENVIRONMENTAL: The use of PAYT bags has demonstrated outstanding reductions in the tonnage of solid waste being disposed of at the Transfer Station. Since PAYT was initiated, Portsmouth has seen an approximately 50% reduction in solid waste disposal and doubling of the recycling rate!
The PAYT paradigm monetarily incentivizes residents to educate themselves on recycling and diversion. Additional ways to reduce the amount of household solid waste (to reduce PAYT costs) include but are not limited to:
Before shipping, Transfer Station staff compacts yard waste. The pit is cleared of the original material inside it (loaded inside a container for shipping to RIRRC facility) then yard waste is deposited for compacting as part of a process of loading it into a container to be brought to RIRRC's facility. Compacting yard waste directly reduces the amount of trips to RIRRC, which in turn saves the Town money.
The Transfer Station policy regarding tarps must balance convenience, liability, and overall safety and flow of operations for all users of the Transfer Station. Open containers (such as a tarp) make it difficult to control the yard waste debris. Spills occur that would require continuous clean-up by Transfer Station staff, drawing them away from other responsibilities. There also exists the possibility of a larger item, like a large branch or small stump, falling out of a tarp and another resident tripping over loose items. All yard waste shall be transported to the Transfer Station contained in a reusable box or barrel, or in yard bags (which can be filled via a Leaf Chute ®).
Yard Waste is not intended for food compost! It is intended for grass clippings, brush, and plant debris. Fruits, vegetables, and other food items from gardens attract pests. There are several local composting initiatives and compost bins are available from the Tax Collector's Office at Town Hall for $45 each.
No. RIRRC (state landfill) does not accept any yard waste loads with branches larger than 2 inches in diameter.
If composting is not a feasible option for stumps and larger tree limbs, local landscaping and tree services can provide wood chipping and stump grinding services. Additionally, the RIRRC facility in Johnston, RI accepts tree stumps if placed in the "Stump Container."
The Town continues to receive reports from Transfer Station staff of unusual C&D/ABC dumping habits. In order to discourage commercial businesses from using the Transfer Station to dispose of construction debris, more stringent requirements are necessary. Commercial users dumping C&D/ABC which is not derived from personal household projects are externalizing their business-related disposal costs onto the other Transfer Station sticker holders.
There is the option to purchase additional C&D/ABC passes from Town Hall, and additionally, residents can review commercial options as listed in the "Dumpster/junk removal" classifieds of local newspapers.
RIRRC has stood up an A-Z portal where "oddball" items, or any item, can be queried for how to dispose of them:
For 2018, Portsmouth has defined "bulky waste" as consisting of household furniture (pillows removed) that could not fit in a PAYT bag. The items in the "Bulky Waste" bin are eventually compacted in the solid waste pit.
The "Bulky Waste" bin is provided as a convenience, but is often a source of confusion. It has been reported by Transfer Station staff that residents throw in items that are large, but could fit into PAYT bags (e.g. basketballs, cushions, pillows, and suitcases). More alarmingly, it has been reported that it appears commercial businesses (e.g., realtors, trash removal services, etc.) that empty houses of furniture are abusing the "Bulky Waste" bin under the guise of being ordinary residential users of the Transfer Station.
Any item disposed as bulky waste adds to the tonnage (RIRRC tipping fees) and transportation costs. As a comparable, Middletown offers residents participating in their curbside PAYT program quarterly bulky waste "amnesty days," otherwise fees are assessed for various bulky waste items:
In Portsmouth, most of the items listed at the above URL can be diverted (toilets, bicycles, appliances, wood, clean mattress/box spring, etc). can all be diverted for free to ABC, scrap metal, appliances, C&D, and finally mattresses, respectively.
There is a container for disposing of used motor oil before entering the Transfer Station shed.
Most automotive parts contain hazardous (liquid or solid) waste and cannot be disposed of at the Transfer Station!
Hazardous waste must be disposed of via the RIRRC Eco-Depot program. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (401) 942-1430 (extension 241) or via the form at the following URL:
If the item is scrap metal (including nuts and bolts) and free of hazardous (liquid or solid waste), please place in the "Scrap Metal" bin. Otherwise, the item should be placed in PAYT bags (bushings, rubber hoses, bumper claddings, etc.).
Short answer, it depends!
If not other disposal or recycling method is available, single-use batteries can be placed in a PAYT bag.
Automotive batteries can be dropped off at the Transfer Station but we ask that you inform Transfer Station personnel beforehand. Automotive batteries incur a core fee when purchased which is refundable when the old battery is exchanged. In addition, any lead-acid battery can be brought to Wal-Mart free of charge:
Rechargeable (e.g., nickel metal hydride [NiMH or Ni–MH], nickel-cadmium [NiCd or NiCad]), and lithium batteries are considered hazardous waste.
Hzardous waste must be disposed of via the RIRRC Eco-Depot program. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 401-942-1430 (extension 241) or via the form at the following URL:
Large, flexible items, like a trampoline or a boat cover, can cause the Transfer Station compactor to jam which leads to downtime and unexpected maintenance costs. Such items shall be cut up and placed into a PAYT bag. Any solid components are recommended to be stripped and placed into their respective diversion containers (e.g. metal from a trampoline into the "Scrap Metal" bin).
The items in the bulky waste container are placed in the compactor pits before shipment to RIRRC. Large, flexible items such as carpets have been demonstrated to jam the compactor at the bottom of the solid waste "pit."
Because of this, we ask that all residents conform to RIRRC guidance regarding carpets and cut carpets into 3 foot by 3 foot lengths and tie them before placing them into the "Bulky Waste" bin. If left untied, carpets will unfurl and jam the compactor pits.
No. Carpet pads often break apart and can create quite a mess! For this reason, carpet pads must be placed into a PAYT bag for disposal.
Fluorescent light bulbs contain highly toxic mercury and must be disposed of via alternative means. In addition to Eco-Depot, there are several local options for safe disposal:
1) Home Depot accepts compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) but not tubes:
2) There are several local hardware stores that accept CFLs and fluorescent light tubes. It is advisable to call beforehand to ensure space in their fluorescent light bins:
If possible, it is recommended to donate or sell furniture. As a last resort, remove pillows (if applicable) and place in a PAYT bag. The remainder of the household furniture shall be placed in the "Bulky Waste" container.
NO! Plastic bags are consistently the most common contaminant and can cause complete shutdown of the RIRRC single stream recycling machines. An overview of their operations is detailed in the following video:
Plastic bags can be recycled by bringing them to local retailers that participate in the "Restore" program. This program uses marked blue boxes (usually at the front of a store) where a person can put their plastic bags so that they are recycled. Any plastic that is "stretchy" can be recycled via the "Restore" program, otherwise it will need to be placed in a PAYT bag.
For more information regarding acceptable plastic films for the "Restore" bins watch:
Mattress and box spring disposal is free for Portsmouth residents with a Transfer Station sticker if:
NOTE: This program does not include: • mattress pads/toppers • sleeping bags • pillows • car beds • mattresses smaller than twin size • water beds • air mattresses • fold-out sofa beds • futons. If possible, these items should be cut up and placed into PAYT bags, or otherwise disposed of as bulky waste.
RI Public Law 2013-423 set up the Rhode Island Mattress Recycling Program for Municipalities:
The name of the organization that establishes the collection criteria is called "The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC)." They work in conjunction with a company that is called 'Mattress Express" who deliver the mattresses. It is this company that inspects the material and who insist on exacting standards.
There are alternatives for mattress and/or box spring disposal. Give away new or gently used mattress and box springs in the "FREE" section of Craigslist.org, FreeCycle.org, or "Aquidneck Island Families Sell & Swap" on Facebook.
Anyone may bring mattresses and box springs to Ace Mattress Recycling (free of charge) or to Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC). Learn more by calling the RIRRC scale house at 401-942-1430, ext. 101.
A resident can still divert the mattress and/or box spring but they would need to "break it down" to its respective components. For example, a dirty mattress can be cut open and the springs removed and placed into the "Scrap Metal" bin, plastic cladding and padding stripped and placed in PAYT bag(s), and any wood from box springs can also be stripped and placed in the "C&D bin" (charges may apply if over 32 gallons of C&D).
The $70 fee is the cost that that is assessed to the town by RIRRC for any soiled or wet mattress or box spring disposed of at the State landfill.
After examining multiple 3-year bid proposals for curbside pickup and continued operation of the Transfer Station, the Town Council decided on October 10, 2017 to utilize the Transfer Station as the Town's residential solid waste/recycling option through 2020.
Therefore, the Town does not offer curbside trash collection, however, curbside pickup is available for a fee from private haulers. Recycling has been mandatory in Rhode Island since 1996:
The Transfer Station sticker fee is the primary funding mechanism for the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund to pay for the cost of disposing of waste.
The fee schedule has increased over time as the RIRRC seeks to extend the life of the landfill.
It is NOT an option to throw away your trash for free! There is a local littering ordinance and a very strict state littering law:
Trash disposal was removed from the tax base in the 2006 timeframe as a large number of residents that utilized curbside pickup argued they were being effectively "double charged" for a trash disposal mechanism that they could not or did not wish to utilize. A Transfer Station Enterprise Fund was set up to fund operations associated with residential solid waste/recycling and diversion.
Folding the costs of trash disposal into the Town's budget would mean all high priority budget items would be knocked out as RI law dictates that the municipal tax levy may not be increased 4% year over year:
If you purchase your Transfer Station sticker at the Tax Collector's office at Town Hall, you have the option of paying by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Please note: if you choose to pay by credit card, the credit card company will charge you a fee. The Town receives no compensation for fees charged. If you purchase your Transfer Station sticker by mail, please pay by check or money order.
No. Please note that it is anticipated that the property tax exemptions already available to the elderly and other special situation taxpayers are considered sufficient to provide fairness to those individual taxpayers.
The Town Council approves the recommended fee developed by Town staff roughly 1-2 months before the "new sticker year." The fee is established by projecting the minimum user fee to fully fund the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund for the upcoming year. All Transfer Station sticker fees (and PAYT revenue) is deposited in a town-managed Transfer Station Enterprise Fund to provide the money needed to pay for the Town's solid waste and recycling program.
Due to multiple sources of information (RIRRC, our selected Transfer Station operator Waste Connections [formerly Vinagro], the Recycling Coordinator, the Town's website, Rules document, rumors around Town, etc.) inconsistencies and misinformation can develop.
In addition, there are market trends and polices and rules dictated to the Town (and sometimes state and federal authorities) over which the Town has no control. For example, in the past year China has clamped down on "contaminated" recyclables, now rejecting any loads with more than 0.5% contamination (formerly 5%)..
Mattresses and box spring collections were defined by RI Law 2013-423 and the fee for soiled mattresses or box springs was raised from $50 to $70 in the middle of 2018.
That being said, the Town, Town Council, and the Solid Waste Recycling Committee (SWRC) is continually working to ensure that the numerous informational sources are in harmony and do not contradict each other.
The Town Council formed the Solid Waste Recycling Committee (SWRC). Its mission is to increase the recycling/diversion rate, review problems and develop solutions that are recommended to the Town Council.
The SWRC also helps create an Annual Report that assists in developing town policy and budgets relating to solid waste disposal and recycling.
The SWRC meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Portsmouth Room, Town Hall:
SWRC meetings are open to the public, and agenda and minutes may be reviewed at:
Please contact the Department of Public Works who will forward the communication to the appropriate channel(s). The Department of Public Works' contact information (Email and telephone number: 401-683-0382) is always posted in the left-hand sidebar at:
Prudence Island has constraints due to a different Transfer Station operator (Lawrence) and a year round population of roughly 150 residents. The scope of island trash services is defined by the bid selected:
The PAYT program is intended to financially incentivize event organizers to divert and compost waste from their events. Allowing exceptions to PAYT creates a "slippery slope" that undercuts the spirit of implementing PAYT.
The selected bid does not include yard waste. To allow for proper oversight, yard waste disposal at the DPW facility must match the hours of the Prudence Island Transfer Station.


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The Taliban met U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Pakistan capital for the first time since President Donald Trump declared a seemingly imminent peace deal to end Afghanistan's 18-year war 'dead' a month ago, a Taliban official said early Saturday.
He offered few details of Friday's meeting between Khalilzad and the Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the movement that was ousted in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
U.S. officials however have been keen to say there is no resumption of peace talks, at least not now in Islamabad.
Still, the meeting is significant as the United States seeks an exit from Afghanistan's 18-year war.
Khalilzad has been in Islamabad for much of the week meeting with senior government officials in what the U.S. State Department described as follow-up meetings he held in New York during last month's U.N. General Assembly session. At the time he met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been calling for a resumption of peace talks.
The Taliban delegation led by Mullah Baradar one of its more powerful members arrived separately in the Pakistani capital for meetings with government officials they said were being held to discuss a wide range of political issues relating to the more than 1.5 million Afghans still living as refugees in Pakistan.
Baradar was arrested in Pakistan in 2010 in a joint Pakistani-CIA operation after he secretly opened peace talks with the then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai, attempting to sideline Pakistan and against the U.S. strategy at the time, which did not support talks with the Taliban.
In 2018, Baradar was released from jail to facilitate peace talks after Khalilzad was appointed U.S. peace as Washington sought a way to exit America's longest military engagement.
More than 14,000 U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan and Trump has repeatedly expressed his frustration with their continued deployment, complaining they have taken on the duties of policing the country, a job he said the Afghan government needed to do.
During the past year, Khalilzad held nine rounds of talks with the Taliban in the Middle eastern State of Qatar, where the insurgents maintain a political office.
In early September a deal seemed imminent, but a fresh round of violence and the death of a U.S. soldier caused Trump to suddenly tweet the end to talks, including the cancellation of an agreement signing ceremony in Camp David, about which few had been aware.
There were no details about the Pakistani meetings Friday.
During the Doha talks, Khalilzad and Baradar held one-on one meetings and in recent weeks the Taliban had travelled to China, Russia and Iran to drum up support for a return to talks.
But in Afghanistan, the country is still awaiting the results of presidential polls held on Sept. 28.
The leading contenders are President Ashraf Ghani and his current partner in the unity government, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
Abdullah has already said he believes he has won while Ghani's supporters are declaring he has the necessary votes, causing many to fear political chaos. Preliminary results are not expected before Oct. 17 and the final results until Nov. 7. If there is no clear winner with 51% of the vote, a second round will be held within two weeks of the final vote announcement.
Credit : Associated Press (AP) | Photo Credit : (AP)


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Sewing away for craft fairs.
First fair of the season was yesterday and I did ok considering there were flash flood warnings all weekend! I was seriously thinking of just showing up to get my deposit and going home.
But it ended up being a nice day (with a few bouts of rain sprinkled in). Total miracle! It poured rain the entire day at our house!
I did add some of the goodies I've been working on to the shop tonight:
My to-do list is pretty long this week too! But I'll be sure to check back in here soon!


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Baton Rouge
Battle Name: | Baton Rouge |
Other Names: | Magnolia Cemetery |
State: | Louisiana |
Location: | East Baton Rouge Parish |
Campaign: | Operations against Baton Rouge (1862) |
Dates: | August 5, 1862 |
Principal Commanders: | Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams [US]; Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge [CS] |
Forces Engaged: | 2nd Brigade, Department of the Gulf [US]; Breckinridge's Corps [CS] |
Estimated Casualties: | 849 total (US 371; CS 478) |
Description: | In an attempt to regain control of the state, Confederates wished to recapture the capital at Baton Rouge. Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge planned a combined land/water expedition with his corps and CSS Ram Arkansas. Advancing west from Camp Moore, the Confederate land forces, coming from the east, were only ten miles away on August 4. They reached the outskirts of the capital early in the morning, formed for an attack in two divisions, and began to drive back each Union unit they encountered. Then, Union gunboats in the river began shelling the Confederates. The Arkansas could have neutralized the Union gunboats, but her engines failed and she did not participate in the battle. Federal land forces, in the meantime, fell back to a more defensible line, and the Union commander, Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams, was killed soon after. The new commander, Col. Thomas W. Cahill, ordered a retreat to a prepared defensive line nearer the river and within the gunboats' protection. Rebels assailed the new line, but finally the Federals forced them to retire. The next day the Arkansas's engines failed again as she closed on the Union gunboats; she was blown up and scuttled by her crew. The Confederates failed to recapture the state capital. |
Results: | Union victory |


text:
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its navigation camera to take the exposures combined into this view of a wee crater, informally named "Skylab," along the rover's route. The component images were taken during the 2,594th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work on Mars (May 12, 2011), after Opportunity had driven 239 feet (72.7 meters) that sol.
This is a young crater about 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter. How young? The blocks of material ejected from the crater-digging impact sit on top of the sand ripples near the crater. This suggests, from the estimated age of the area's sand ripples, that the crater was formed within the past 100,000 years. The dark sand inside the crater attests to the mobility of fine sand in the recent era in this Meridiani Planum region of Mars.
The view spans 216 degrees of the compass, from northwest on the right to south on the right. It is presented as a cylindrical projection.
Opportunity successfully completed its three-month prime mission on Mars in April 2004 and has continued in bonus extended missions since then. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover Project for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington.


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Sewer Repairs
Helpful Resources
- Sewer Relay/Repair Permit Application (PDF)
- Homeowner's Affidavit (PDF)
- Permit fees are $88 whether a homeowner or contractor takes out the permit ($70 plus a $18 processing fee).
Required Documents
Homeowners who: 1) own the home, 2) live in the home, and 3) homestead the home through the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) may pull a Homeowner's Affidavit and complete the repairs themselves if they feel confident in making the required repairs. Homeowners must provide a copy of a current driver's license which reflects the address you are trying to permit. (If you have recently purchased the home, please call our office at 972-205-2300 for alternatives to this requirement.) This department will verify with DCAD via their website that a homestead exemption exists for the permitted address. If there is no record of a homestead exemption, the homeowner must provide a copy of the executed homestead exemption from DCAD.
If the homeowner is unable to produce the required documents stated above, a State-licensed master plumber registered with the City of Garland must be hired to take out the permit.
Rental Properties
If the property is rental property, a State-licensed master plumber who is registered with the City of Garland must complete the repairs. No exceptions.
Permit Requirements
- A permit must be obtained for replacement of any portion of a sewer line.
- If the sewer line is being relocated and it requires a new sewer tap, a fee must be paid to the Water Department located at 2343 Forest Lane; 972-205-3210.
- The sewer line must have a slope of at least 1/8 inch fall per foot. The pipe must be bedded properly on the bottom and sides of the pipe so that the line will maintain proper slope during backfill. Bedded in means that the sewer line is supported its entire length and the ditch is backfilled halfway up the pipe.
- There must be a two-way cleanout close to the house.
- The sewer line must be extended at least 1 foot past the property line.
- The sewer line must have a water test. The line must be filled to the top of the cleanout or just below the floor level of the house.
- All joints must be exposed with no water in the ditch. If water is in the ditch, it is assumed that the pipe joints are leaking and the inspection will not be approved.
- After the sewer line inspection is approved, the homeowner/contractor must tie in the line temporarily so that the house will have sewer service.
- The Inspector will release the sewer relay to the Water Department. The Water Department will schedule a time to make the sewer connection permanent. It takes approximately three working days for the Water Department to start the work. During those three days, other utility companies will be contacted to mark their lines.
- The homeowner/contractor is approved to backfill the ditch, except for the temporary tie-in.
- The temporary tie-in must remain exposed for the Water Department. The homeowner/contractor must coordinate with the Water Department to fence or tape off the excavation for safety purposes by contacting them at 972-205-3210.


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"OTTAWA — A unique research project at Environment Canada could soon offer a new perspective for Canadians on conservation and its economic value, says a director in the federal department.
Following a fall report released by the United Nations Environment Programme that concluded natural ecosystems around the world were worth trillions of dollars in the global economy, the Harper government is following up with the development of its own framework to evaluate the economic value of nature in Canada. "
Mike De Souza reports for Canwest News Service May 24, 2010.
Source: Canwest, 05/25/2010


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@Armando - not to mention it was made in Canada @mouser - done - https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=24261.0@MerleOne - have a look here, let me know what you think - http://www.bvckup.co...opic_show.pl?pid=258-apankrat (October 14, 2010, 08:38 PM)
Any plans for a portable (non-installer) version?-jaden (October 15, 2010, 03:25 AM)
The current beta is portable... I installed it on my USB at my (very restrictive) work today without problems
@sajman99 - thanks, great to hear you like it @cranioscopical - thanks@Armando - One thing to keep in mind with regards to the copying speed is the following. With delta copying there's always a small chance that a change will be missed because a block of data happens to have the exact same checksum (or hash) after it is modified. Bvckup is using MD5 over moderately sized blocks (32 KB), so technically the probability of such event are really really small. However, just to err on the side of caution, Bvckup will copy every file in its entirety every N backups (8 by default). This is configurable in backup Properties, Backup What section, behind the Details button.Glad you like the website. My hobby du jour - http://dribbble.com/players/apankrat Regarding Hamachi - yeah, that was my baby too. It was wildly popular in gamers' circles, but I doubt it still is as LogMeIn repositioned it as an IT/sysadmin tool.-apankrat (October 15, 2010, 12:56 AM)
It is indeed a nice feature, and you are not the first one to ask for it. I can see how it can be useful and how it is related to what the program does at the moment. However it complicates the program. Not in terms of complexity of the code, or even the complexity of the UI. It's all about making the software that does just one thing and does it really well. Right now it is very easy to explain what the program does - it makes a copy of a folder. Once advanced options are added, like the one you are suggested, the program starts to turn into a Swiss Army Knife. Its scope blurs, it becomes harder to understand what it is for exactly. It sure becomes more featureful and could potentially accommodate the needs of a wider variety of users, but at the same time it will become less and less appealing to those who just need to just copy a folder. In the end by adding a feature the program may gain less users than it would loose - loosing those who view major unwanted features as a bloat or unneeded complexity. One option would be to make another, separate program that would backup into the compressed archived. And do only that.
@Armando - rename/move detection is on my ToDo list, it has been suggested before and I think it's a great feature to have. I will see what I can do... perhaps over the weekend With regards to further improving speed - there is a number of things that bvckup doesn't currently do, and that I am going to tackle in a bit. Specifically, the bypass of OS cache, using one IO thread per device, etc. That's why it is still in beta.-apankrat (October 15, 2010, 08:47 PM)
I only have one questions: how do you pronounce the name? "bvackup"? "bee-vee-cup"? -Nod5 (October 15, 2010, 01:04 PM)


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Astronomers Identify Stellar Patrons of the Milky Way's Bar
Scientists with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) have announced the discovery of hundreds of stars rapidly moving together in long, looping orbits around the center of our galaxy. "The best explanation for their orbits is that these stars are part of the Milky Way bar," says David Nidever, a Dean B. McLaughin Fellow in the Astronomy Department at the University of Michigan. "We know that the bar plays an important role in determining the structure of the galaxy, so learning more about these stars will help us understand the whole galaxy, even out here in the spiral arms."
The team's discovery came from accurately measuring the speeds of thousands of stars near the center of the Milky Way. The center of our galaxy is 30,000 light-years away — close by cosmic standards — yet we know surprisingly little about it, because the galaxy's dusty disk hides it from view. In spite of this blind spot, though, we do know a key fact about our galaxy: like many spiral galaxies, the Milky Way has a 'bar' of stars that orbit together around the galactic center.
"We know of the bar's existence from many separate lines of evidence," says Gail Zasowski, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral Fellow at The Ohio State University. "What we don't know is which stars are part of the bar, and what the velocities of those stars are. That information will help us understand how the bar formed, and how its stars relate to the stars in the rest of the galaxy."
The trouble is that there is no obvious way to tell a star in the Milky Way's bar apart from any other star in the same neighborhood. Instead, the key to finding bar stars is to measure the velocities of many stars, then see whether some of those stars are moving together in some unusual pattern. Although interstellar dust blocks nearly all visible light, longer infrared wavelengths can partially shine through. So a survey of stellar positions and velocities that operates in infrared light could finally pierce the veil of dust, and collect data from enough stars in the innermost Milky Way to firmly identify which ones are part of the bar.
Enter SDSS-III's new Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). APOGEE uses a custom-built high-resolution infrared spectrograph attached to the 2.5-meter Sloan Foundation Telescope in New Mexico, and is capable of measuring the velocities and chemical compositions of up to 300 stars at once. "What separates APOGEE from previous spectroscopic surveys is that we are studying the galaxy using infrared light," Nidever says. APOGEE began observations in June 2011 and has already observed more than 48,000 stars all over our galaxy.
In a paper published recently in Astrophysical Journal Letters [http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/755/2/L25/], a worldwide team of scientists including Nidever and Zasowski used data from the first few months of APOGEE observations to measure the velocities for nearly 5,000 stars near the galactic center. With these velocity measurements, they assembled a picture of how these stars orbit the center of the Milky Way. However, quite unexpectedly, they found that a substantial fraction of stars in the inner galaxy are moving away from us quickly — about 10 percent of the total stars in their sample are moving at more than 200 kilometers per second (400,000 miles per hour) away from the Earth. The observed pattern of these fast stars is similar in many different parts of the inner galaxy, and is the same above and below the midplane of the galaxy — suggesting that these measurements of fast central stars are not just a statistical fluke, but really are a feature of our galaxy.
The team then compared their observations with the predictions of the bar stars from the latest computer models of the galaxy — and the observations matched the predictions closely. "Based on the evidence from the model comparisons, I am now confident that these fast-moving stars are part of the bar," Nidever says. "I was actually quite surprised that they showed up so clearly in our survey."
APOGEE's identification of which stars are part of the bar will allow astronomers to study how stars in the bar and in the rest of the galaxy react to one another. "The bar acts like a giant mixer for our galaxy," says Steven Majewski, a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia and the principal investigator for the APOGEE project. "As the bar rotates, it churns up the motions of nearby stars. Over time, this mixing should have a large effect on the disk of our galaxy, including in spiral arms where we live, but this effect is not well understood. This new sample of definitively-identified bar stars gives us a unique opportunity to learn more about exactly how this giant blender mixes up our galaxy."
But the team's discovery only tells half the story. So far, APOGEE has only observed one side of the bar, the side where the stars are moving away from the Earth. On the other side, the stars must be moving toward Earth. But unfortunately, the Sloan telescope is inconveniently placed: the other half of the Milky Way bar is visible only from Earth's southern hemisphere. Seeing the other side of the bar is one of the motivations for a planned fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Part of this successor project will implement the same techniques using a 2.5-meter telescope in Chile to observe the rest of the inner Milky Way. The new survey is set to begin in 2014.
PIO Contacts:
Michael Wood-Vasey
SDSS-III Spokesperson
University of Pittsburgh
+1 412-624-2751
Jordan Raddick
SDSS-III Public Information Officer
+1 410-516-8889
Science Contacts:
David Nidever
University of Michigan
+1 734-615-6141
Gail Zasowski
The Ohio State University
+1 614-292-6925
Steven Majewski
University of Virginia
+1 434-924-4893
Low-resolution illustration for web (698 x 648 px JPG, 696 kB):
High-resolution illustration for print (9.6″ x 9″, 300 dpi JPG, CMYK, 8.9 MB):
A map of the innermost Milky Way, with circles marking the regions explored by the SDSS-III APOGEE project. Circles marked with "X" show places where the project found high-speed stars associated with the Milky Way's bar moving away from Earth. The lighter regions marked with dots on the other side of the galactic Center show places where the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey hopes to find counterpart bar stars moving toward the Earth.
Illustration credit:
David Nidever (University of Michigan / University of Virginia) and the SDSS-III Collaboration. Background image from the Two-Micron All Sky Survey Image Mosaic (Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/Caltech & University of Massachusetts):
Low-resolution illustration for web (539 x 539 px JPG, 192 kB):
High-resolution illustration for print (7.5″ x 7.5″, 300 dpi JPG, 2.4 MB):
An artist's impression of what the Milky Way might look like viewed from above. The small blue dot is where we are on Earth (not to scale). The solid red arrows show the high-speed stars moving away from Earth that were discovered by SDSS-III. The dashed arrows show the stars moving *toward* Earth that are expected to be seen by the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
Illustration credit:
Jordan Raddick (Johns Hopkins University) and Gail Zasowski (The Ohio State University / University of Virginia). Milky Way artist's concept by NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC-Caltech):


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On Saturday, February 4th, The June Buchanan Middle School Academic Team was back in action at the Regional Governor's Cup Competition, held at Cordia Elementary. Students competed against students from 14 other schools in both team and individual events. Individual students taking home subject awards were:
Language Arts: Ruby Yeary (3rd)
Science: Trey Moore (2nd) and Colton Jacobs (5th)
Social Studies: Trey Moore (1st) and Colton Jacobs (4th)
We are pleased to announce that in addition to these individual awards, the JBS Quick Recall Team placed 1st out of the entire region! These accomplishments added up to secure the 2nd place overall award for the JBS Crusaders. All of the individual winners, as well as the Quick Recall Team, will be advancing to the State level of Governor's Cup to be held on March 10th-12th in Lexington, Kentucky. We wish these students the best of luck as they represent JBS at the State level!


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XSD Sand Washer
The efficient sand washing machine of XSD series is a kind of cleaning equipment of international advanced level for sand and slag pellets, developed on the basis of introducing foreign outstanding technology of the same kind of products. According to customers' feedback, it meets their demands well both on capacity and on the cleanliness.
- The sand washing machine features simple structure, big gap between impeller transmission bearing system and water as well as raw materials, so that it protects the bearing from dipping into the water, sand and other pollutants.
- Mid-fineness sand seldom lapses out. The grade and the fineness of washed build sand can reach required standard.
- High ablution, big capacity, low consumption, long serving life.
Sand washer is used to remove the dust in sand. It is widely used for cleaning materials in the following industries: quarry, minerals, building materials, transportation, chemical industry, water conservancy and hydropower, cement mixture station and so on.


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Houston Astros' Rookie Catcher Gets Caught on Hidden Ball Trick Then Hit in Face for First Career RBI
To say yesterday was a bad day for Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi is an understatement. First, he was tagged out by the ol' hidden ball trick, then he was beaned in the face by Texas Rangers pitcher Tanner Scheppers.
The only redeeming thing (if there is one) about getting hit in the face is that the bases were loaded, so that pitch actually forced a runner home -- giving Stassi his first career RBI.


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Friday, December 31, 2010
The Haunted Mansion
When I began the journey of hunting down fonts used in the parks I started with one of my favorite attractions. Let's just be honest, the Haunted Mansion is one of everyone's favorite attractions. I've ridden the Haunted Mansion too many times to count.
I began looking for fonts used in the ever-so-popular attraction posters, signage used in the parks and various consumer products (both present and past merchandise). Unfortunately, I've not tracked down ALL the fonts used in the various Haunted Mansion branding...but I have a good start.
The Haunted Mansion font palette is an interesting one. Fonts can actually tell us a lot about something such as a time period. They can also convey themes and even invoke moods from us, the viewers.
Let's look at just one font used in the Haunted Mansion. The "The" in the Haunted Mansion's main sign on the gate is one of my favorite fonts of all time. Bookman Swash (used throughout the park) tells us about the time period this certain signage was created.
Bookman Swash became highly popular in the 70's and is a variation of the classic font Bookman. We die hard fans know that Disneyland's Haunted Mansion opened on August 9, 1969 and Walt Disney World Resort's Mansion opened in 1971... so did the designers use this font because it was popular for the time or simply because it spoke to them from regions beyond?!?!
Most, if not all, fonts used by Disney are actually display fonts. Display fonts are known for their decorative characteristics and are usually used only for titles and other BIG billing text. You will find throughout the parks, Disney's designers like to break this basic rule of design and use these display fonts to set entire sections of body copy. This helps keep the theme of an attraction, land or area consistent.
Other font themes found in the Mansion can be classified as Victorian, Art Nouveau and even Celtic.
Case Study,
Haunted Mansion,


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How To Select Your First Radio by Ed Anderson If you go through the beginner section on any of the major forums you will see this question, or some version of it over and over again. And you will see it in the advanced flying sections too. That's because the radio is t he single most important tool you will use to fly your model aircraft. Wit hout the radio control system there is no radio control flying. So, how to choose? If you are totally new, never flown, and if you are going to learn without using a buddy box, I usually recommend an RTF, ready to fly package that in cludes the airplane, radio, all the electronics already installed in the pl ane. It usually includes the battery and charger too. This eliminates so many decisions and considerations and points of confusion. This lets the pi lot focus on learning to fly. Which RTF? That is a question for another di scussion but there are lots of good ones out there. They all come with a r adio that should be adequate to the task of flying that plane. And the valu e of the radio, in that package, is typically so small that even if you nev er use it for anything else, that's OK. Once you have your basic flying skills down, NOW we can start to discuss wh at you want and need in a radio that will carry you forward. You will have more time to read and talk to other pilots so you will have begun to learn about the aspects of RC flying. You will be better prepared to understand the information below and to address the questions we will ask as we try t o guide you. Standard vs. Computer Radios A standard radio is one without model memories and usually very little, if any mixing capabilities. The Spektrum DX5e or the Hitec Laser 4 would be e xamples of standard radios. Standard radios are fine when you get them in RTFs or if you plan to have a dedicated radio for each plane. Otherwise ge t a radio that has model memories, usually called a computer radio. Enoug h on that topic.
Brands vs. Off Brands There a lots of good radios out there. The major brands in North America a re Futaba, JR, Spektrum, Hitec and Airtronics. I am going to add Tactic h ere as it is sold and supported by Hobbico, a major distributor/retailer th at also distributes Futaba. I don't think Tactic's market share is all tha t big but I think it is going to grow. All others have relatively small market shares, but that doesn't mean they are bad. The major brands are all safe bets and all have great service. You will find those who love one over the other and those who hate one vs. the other. But in the end, they all have good products. If you go outsi de these brands you may get a great radio too but the level of service and support may not be up to the standards of the brands. So if you go outside the brands, consider where you will get help if you need it. Going "off b rand" can be quite easy if your friend has one or if you a member of a foru m with lots of users of this radio. Budget How much are you willing to spend? As you shop for radios notice that radi os often come packaged with other stuff. That might be receivers, servos, cables, switches, etc. When you evaluate the price of one radio vs. anothe r you MUST take into account what is included in the package. A $150 radio is not cheaper than a $180 radio package that comes with a $50 receiver. The more you can spend, the more capable radio you can buy and the less imp ortant the rest of the questions become. Once you get over $400 for one o f the brand name radios, they all pretty much can do what you are likely to need to do to fly almost anything, as long as they have enough channels. Y ou will get all kinds of opinions from advanced pilots as to what is better for what, but they are talking shades of gray here. If you can spend $400 or more on a major brand radio, then buy whatever you like or whatever you r friend has or what you see in the champion pilots flying in the radio ads . If you don't have $400 for a radio, then you have to be more selective. Bu t you can still get a very capable radio for under $250. You just have to b e a little more specific as we start finding limitations. Of course these limitation may not matter to you so don't feel you are buying junk. Just m aybe you are not buying a lot of stuff you don't need. When discussing budget, state a number. Asking for an inexpensive radio me ans nothing. When considering my needs, I consider $250, for the radio alo ne, an inexpensive radio. How about you? No matter what it is, start with a number. Does you budget include a receiver? Servos? State a number a nd then define it. Naturally there are lots of used radios. Buying used radio is like buying a used car, it may be great or it may be a dog. When you buy used you take a risk. As long as you accept that, you can consider used. My two main ra dios were purchased used. Last, forget about the "best" radio or the one that will last you the rest of your flying career. There is no best and we all tend to want to trade up after a while. But even a basic 6 channel computer radio can serve you for decades of flying fun if your needs are basic. I have friends who hav e been flying for decades, who are instructors and who are flying radios th at they love but that would not meet my needs at all. Trainer Port Trainer ports have two main uses, working with a simulator and attaching to a buddy box. Will you be working with an instructor using a buddy box? I f so, what radios will work with your instructor's radio? If you are buyin g a simulator and want it to work with your radio, make sure the trainer po rt on your radio will work with that simulator. Buying a cool radio then n ot being able to get flying instructions or working with our simulator real ly doesn't work well. Types of Aircraft Computer radios typically have some level of software for airplanes and mos t include some type of helicopter software too. This software can go from b asic to advanced and usually the more advanced the software the higher the price of the radio. Many do not include specific software for sailplanes/ gliders which are the same thing for the purposes of this discussion. That does not mean that you can't use them to fly gliders. Gliders are just spec ialized forms of airplanes. What it means is that the radio's software will not include the special mixes that many gliders pilots want. So, if you pl an to fly gliders you may wish to look for a radio that includes glider mix es. If gliders/sailplanes are in your plans then read this article:
While there are some interesting four and five channel computer radios, I a m going to recommend you get a computer radio with six or more channels. I don't see any real benefit for having less than six channels, as the cost difference is small and the benefits of 6 or more channels is high. Even i f you are flying a rudder elevator glider or 3 channel electric airplane to day, next year you may be adding ailerons and flaps and landing gear. So g et a radio that can handle at least that, and that would be 6 channels.
Why would you ever need more? Here is a typical channel breakdown, regardl ess of whether you are flying electric, glow, gas or gliders, giant scale o r highly detailed scale models. Jets, advanced helicopters, first person v iew (FPV) may have other needs, but it still comes down to channels.
Rudder - 1 or 2 Elevator - 1 or 2 Ailerons - 1 to 4 Spoilers - 1 or 2 Flaps - 1 to 2 Tow hook - 1 Landing gear - 1 Motor - 1 to 2 Smoke, lights, Other - 1 to ?
That makes 4, 5, 6, up to 18 channels depending on what kind of aircraft yo u have and how you set it up. So how many do you need?
In my opinion, most sport flyers will be well served for a long time with a 6 channel entry to mid level sport computer radio but more channels could come in handy in the future. If you are planning to become a more serious competition pilot, plan to fly giant scale, full house sailplanes, jets or are very interested in having cameras, lights, smoke or other things on you r plane, that you can control from the radio plan for more than 6 channels. Basic Features
Most currently available new computer radios offer the following features. Regardless of what you are flying, I highly recommend your radio have these features.
- Model Memories (at least 10)
- Low Battery Warning
- Trims on the channels controlled by the stick(s).
- Timer - highly recommended but not required
- End Point Adjustment/Adjustable Travel Volume
- Subtrim (fine centering on the servos during set-up)
- Dual Rates and Exponential on ailerons and elevator. If you are flying 3D you want these on the rudder too.
- Elevon/delta wing and V-tail mixes
If it doesn't have at least these, don't buy it! Model Memories How many planes do you plan to own and fly? Twenty years ago, when everyone was building kits, when electronics were costly, you might have 2 planes f lying and maybe 3 in the hanger without servos, receiver or a motor. Oh, t here were always guys with 30 planes, but if you had 3 models flyable then
3 model memories were plenty. Today, I would consider 10 the minimum. Plane s are cheap, electronics are cheap and "bind and fly" types are so easy to pick up and take flying. Some radios will now let you save models to a mem ory card or to download them to your computer. If you can save aircraft pr ofiles outside the radio, 10 model memories are probably plenty to hold wha t you are currently actively flying. If you can't save them then I would co nsider 10 an absolute minimum. More is always better.Type of flying and surface mixes After model memories, surface mixes are one of the great features that comp uter radios bring to the game. Input to one control can move 2 or more ser vos in a coordinated fashion to create the kind of surface control you need . I use some mixes that move 5 servos at once. This can reduce the pilot' s workload while providing very consistent behavior. In some cases these m ixes can be overridden during the flight or can be turned on and off.
In the list below, where two surfaces are listed, the first is the master a nd the second follows, sometimes called the slave channel. The following li st is what I would consider the minimum set I would want in even an entry l evel radio. They may be named mixes or they may be able to be created by " user mixes".
- Flapperon - requires two aileron servos on separate channels
- Aileron to rudder mix (coordinated turns)
- Flap to elevator mixing for landing and glide path control.
- At least 1 user defined mix after the above.
You should find these on even the most entry level computer radio. If it d oesn't have these, I would recommend you don't buy it. For many pilots this is all they will ever need. But if you plan to get in to full house sailplanes, competition pattern flying or other advanced form s of flying you may need other mixes. Talk to friends and people on the fo rums to ask them what mixes they use. Some are only available in those mu ch more expensive radios so don't put them on your required list unless you have the budget and REALLY need it. Remember, people flew RC aircraft for decades with 4 channel radios without any surface mixing, and so can you.
Receiver Selection Without the receiver, the radio is useless, so receiver selection is import ant. If you are flying larger planes you may have lots of room for the re ceiver, but if you are flying small planes, the size and weight of the rece iver can be critical. Putting a 1 ounce receiver in a 6 ounce plane just d oesn't make sense and it likely won't fit. If you are into indoor flying o r micro planes you want them really small and light. Some brands offer "br icks" that are ultra light packages that combine the receiver with the ESC and perhaps servos. If this is your interest, make sure your radio brand h as these available. If you have a 6 channel radio you can use a receiver that has more than 6 c hannels. Sometimes we use those extra slots for things that the radio does not control, like plane finders. So having receivers available with more slots than your radio can control might be useful. Most 2.4 GHz radios have very specific protocols that are used for the radi o to talk to the receiver. In many cases you must buy the same brand of re ceiver as radio. And in some cases there are different protocols within th e brand. For example, Futaba has FASST and FHSS radios in their line. The receivers are specific to the protocol. So a Futaba FHSS radio can't fly a Futaba FASST receiver even though they are both Futaba 2.4 GHz systems. In the 72 MHz days it was common to find "compatible" receivers. For examp le, you could buy a Hitec or Berg receiver to use with your, Futaba, JR or Airtronics radio. That went away with the dawn of 2.4 GHz, but compatible receivers are now becoming available. Today there are compatible receivers for Spektrum/JR DSM2, Futaba FASST and Hitec AFHSS 2.4 GHz radios. There may be others as well. If the cost of receivers is important to you, and y ou would consider compatibles, then this may help influence your choice of radios. Bind and Fly/TX-R/others In the old days, 10 years ago, you purchased a plane and put a receive in i t that worked with your radio. Today you can buy planes that are all set to go including servos, and receiver. That is great, but you have to have a matching radio in order to fly them. Horizon Hobby has a huge line of BnF, Bind and Fly planes. If you have a Spektrum or JR DSM2 or DSMX radio you can just buy these planes, bind them to your radio and go fly. Hobbico also has the line of transmitter ready, TX-R, planes. Their Tacti c radios work with these TX-R planes. However they also have an external mo dule, the AnyLink, that will work with many radios. Once you have an AnyLi nk module can fly any of their TX-R planes with a variety of brands of radi os.
If BnF or TX-R matters to you, then you want a radio that will work with th ese aircraft. Not everyone cares, but if you do, take this into considerat ion. Other Features There are all kinds of special features appearing on radios. Telemetry, to uch screens, the ability to update the software over the internet and so on . How important are these? You decide. Talk to those who love them and those who laugh at them, then make your decision. The Best and the Last People ask which is the best radio. There is no best. The best is the one that you can't afford or that will be released 6 months after you buy the one you bought. So don't worry about the best, concern yourself with what will work for you, your budget and your flying style. All of the major bra nds are good. And there are many "off brands" that are good as well. Some people want to buy the radio that will last them a lifetime. Well, ev en an entry level computer radio can fulfill that, if your requirements nev er exceed the capability of the radio. But the fact is that we all get th e bug to upgrade. So my suggestion is to look at something you feel will l ast you 3 to 5 years. Who knows what you will want in a radio 5 years from now. Ten years ago we did not have 2.4 GHz radios or radios that could be upgraded over the internet. So forget the forever radio. In the world o f computers and electronics, 5 years is forever. Now that we have covered the basics it is time for you to ask questions. R ead the advertisements, look at the boxes, talk to friends and ask your que stions. We are all here to help. Resources: Radio System Basics Part 1
Most of the major radio makers have a customer support forum on RC Universe . Good place to see what kinds of questions/issues are being discussed.
It can be hard to separate fact from opinion or outright fiction but at least you can see what is being discussed. Great place to ask questions .


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Having reissued her studio recordings – several times, in many cases – EMI is now paying attention to Maria Callas's live documents. Unauthorized releases of these three particular live performances have been on the markets for decades. Abbey Road digital mastering can't make these somewhat crude (by today's standards) unofficial tapings into studio-polished recordings. On the other hand, it has made these documents less sonically challenging than they were in the past, and no one with a genuine appreciation for this music and for Callas's singing should have difficulty listening through the unavoidable sonic artifacts; remember, these performances were never intended for commercial release in the first place.
Médea is a pretty good opera, but all the stops need to be pulled out for it to come to life – otherwise, Cherubini's polite music seems at odds with the bloodthirsty action. (In brief: Médea is a foreigner who comes to town and kills her two children rather than let their father marry another woman – whom she also kills for good measure.) Callas's studio recording from 1957 (also released by EMI Classics) gets the major points across. This live performance from December 10, 1953 has decided advantages, however. One, Callas is in better voice. Two, dramatic points are made far more strongly here; in the studio, Callas was imposing, but here she was terrifying, a veritable tigress. Three, conductor Tullio Serafin meant well on the studio recording, but it took someone from outside the Italian opera tradition – someone like Leonard Bernstein – to reveal all the passion hiding within Cherubini's classicism.
This was Callas's first La Scala Médea. She had performed the role three times that spring in Florence, and, after a five-performance run at La Scala, she would return to it about two dozen more times. Vocally, this is Callas at her best. Dramatically, she might have made refinements in later productions, but this is a finished portrayal, replete with betrayal, grief, cunning, maternal tenderness, vengeance, and all-consuming rage. One can't understand the Callas phenomenon from studio recordings alone. Of her preserved live work, perhaps this is the most archetypal.
The other singers are at least competent, ranging from Penno's whiny Giasone to Barbieri's solid Neris. One advantage of the studio recording is the presence of a young Renata Scotto, but a good Glauce hardly tips the balance. Bernstein, a last-minute substitution for Victor de Sabata, learned the score in five days. His fiery disposition complements Callas's perfectly; thanks to Bernstein, this is Classical opera with the kid gloves off, veering dramatically into the age of Romanticism.
A loud prompter, overloaded climaxes, and other sonic blemishes are not nearly as troubling as one might fear. It is not difficult to listen through these minor distractions and to discern the soul of opera itself.
Amina from La Sonnambula and Médea are light years apart. Amina's sweetness will have some listeners reaching for the insulin; her only undesirable trait is that she sleepwalks. When she, on the eve of her wedding, sleepwalks her way into the bedroom of a man who is not her intended husband, the expected complications ensue. It all ends well, however, with Amina vindicated before all. Dramatically and musically, this is thin stuff – much thinner than Médea. La Scala realized this when they revived it for Callas in 1955, so they brought in Luchino Visconti to direct the production. Visconti astutely stylized the opera, turning Amina and her bridesmaids into a dreamy corps de ballet. Only during the finale, when the house lights were brought up, were the quotation marks removed from La Sonnambula. The team of Callas, Visconti, and Bernstein (incandescent as before) made Bellini's creaky opera viable, a feat few have dared even to attempt since then.
As with Médea, this is a recording from the production's opening night: March 5, 1955. (There were ten performances in all. La Scala revived the production for twelve more performances in 1957, and once those were completed, Callas never sang Amina again.) It was the 1957 cast that made the commercial recording for EMI. By then, Bernstein had moved on, and he was replaced by the dull Antonino Votto. Valletti, so effective as the jealous groom in 1955, also was replaced by an inferior. As with Médea, then, the studio recording is pallid next to the live recording reviewed here.
Callas, still close to her peak vocally, has the audience eating out of her hands; the demonstration that follows "Ah! non giunge" drowns out the opera's last moments. The diva does more with this droopy heroine than one would have thought possible, and her singing, particularly during her periods of somnambulism, isn't quite "there" – an effect which contributes to the production's air of unreality. Médea highlights Callas's intensity, but La Sonnambula is all about her intelligence and sensitivity. Even with downward transpositions, Valletti makes something good out of the rather unpleasant role of Elvino. Modesti is a competent Rodolfo (he sounds too old for the role), and Ratti an appropriately shrewish Lisa – she wants Elvino for herself and is only too glad to blow the whistle on the sleepwalking Amina. Carturan's Teresa is sympathetic, but collectors probably will prefer the young Fiorenza Cossotto's interpretation on the studio recording.
The prompter is more discreet here, but the expected sonic imperfections are here too… and are powerless to diminish the power of Callas, Valletti, and Bernstein.
The previous two operas were Callas's showcases. In contrast, Andrea Chénier, mounted by La Scala in January and February 1955, was supposed to have been tenor Mario del Monaco's show. At first, La Scala scheduled Il trovatore, but the tenor, claiming indisposition, suggested Giordano's opera instead. Some have suggested that he was intimidated by the prospect of singing Manrico to what probably would have been a riveting Leonora from Callas. As Callas had not sung Maddalena before, perhaps he thought he would come off as the stronger of the two. It is also possible that he thought that Callas would defer to her rival Renata Tebaldi, a classic Maddalena and a favored partner for del Monaco.
Not so fast, Mario. Callas learned the role in five days. The first-night audience of January 8, 1955 – the performance preserved here – was prepared for fireworks, and also prepared to supply some of their own. Pro-Callas, pro-Tebaldi, and pro-del Monaco factions all showed up that night. Callas's detractors, it is said, found any excuse to rattle her – by extravagantly cheering every lead's performance but hers, and by responding nastily to perceived faults in her singing. (Just as the French Revolution devoured its children, so does opera.) Callas, in spite of it all, is a powerful, memorable Maddalena, most of all in "La mamma morta," the only part of the opera she had sung prior to the production. She never made a studio recording of the entire role, so this is all we have of Callas's Maddalena. It's not a role to which she was naturally suited, but – let's face it – she wipes up the floor with both del Monaco and Protti here. This is guts and glory singing, not subtle, but not afraid to walk the tightrope without a net. Performances like this just don't happen anymore.
Del Monaco opens his mouth and lets his big sound out with little shaping or sensitivity. As a purely sensual experience, his solos are enjoyable, but what coloring he brings to the role is strictly primary. Protti makes a good showing in Act One; after that, he's spent, and "Nemico della patria" is thrown away. La Scala, though, shows its overall strength through the many telling characterizations in the smaller roles. Votto shows his mettle too – apparently he was better in the theater than in the recording studio.
Unpleasantly peaky sound requires patience from the listener, but – as with the other two recordings reviewer here – it's worth it.
Copyright © 2003, Raymond Tuttle


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Fantasy RPG Kickstarter accused of scamming, plagiarism
Finger-pointing follows closure of Mythic: Gods & Men project.
It was bound to happen sooner or later, but it seems Kickstarter might just have racked up its first significant gaming scam.
As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, the project in question is a fantasy RPG project titled Mythic: Gods & Men that launched last month asking for $80,000 in contributions.
The funding drive was cancelled by its creator - a mysterious outfit called Little Monster Productions - three days ago, with $4739 raised from 83 backers, following accusations that it was all just a scam.
The evidence? Posters on the Something Awful forums spotted that Little Monster had 'borrowed' character art and concept models from various design blogs and had copied and pasted its reward tiers directly from another Kickstarter for The Banner Saga, while images of its offices were lifted from the Burton Design Group's site.
Eyebrows were also raised at its rather unlikely assertions that its team included nine developers who had "left Activision / Blizzard in search of a better game creation environment" and that the game's "animations will be done via motion capture thanks to some friends at Disney/Pixar".
Not only that but the $80,000 total and planned May 2013 launch both seem very ambitious for a project of its purported scale.
Little Monster answered the accusations shortly prior to the game's cancellation but hasn't been heard from since.
"It seems we have been subjected to false claims of ownership right to our concepts," read a post on its Kickstarter forum page.
"The game itself is well in progress and is NOT a scam of any kind. Thank you for understanding. If you have any furthure [sic] questions please feel free to ask."
Kickstarter only transfers cash from pledges if a project is funded, so no backers will have been left out of pocket.


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As one of the pioneers in the field of recovery, she developed theories on the effects of childhood trauma that became the foundation for The Meadows' programs and are, in large measure, the reason for its success.
Much of her work at The Meadows, a multi-disorder facility specializing in the treatment of trauma and addictions, includes counseling with staff and individual patients. A highly acclaimed lecturer, she maintains a schedule of speaking engagements and training workshops throughout the world.


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Different Cuts Of Meat
Page 1 of 2
The butcher's store can be a shop of delights. There are so many great meats on display that it's hard to know where to begin. To the uninitiated, different cuts of meat can be confusing. Without direction, it's hard to know which ones cook quickly and which ones need more time, as well as which ones offer more flavor while others might offer more texture.Luckily, we present to you our guide to different cuts of meat for just such questions. Think of it as a quick reference guide to the butcher's shop. In all, we've listed the eight primal cuts of meat every man should know.
Also known as the 7-bone steak because of the shape of the bone in this cut, chuck comes from the area above the brisket toward the animal's front. A chuck cut of meat is loaded with connective tissues such as collagen, which add a stronger flavor to the meat.How to cook this cut of meat: A chuck's cut is good grilled or braised, but it's best in ground beef.
Price: Chuck roast usually goes for between $2 and $4 per pound. Buy a pound per person.
A rib cut of meat is arguably one of the finest cuts of meat from the cow. It's here you'll find the best cuts such as prime rib, short ribs and rib eye steaks, all of which are prized for their juiciness, tenderness, marbling, and superb flavor.How to cook this cut of meat: A rib cut is best cooked over dry heat, such as on the barbecue, with a gourmet sauce and plenty of resting to let the juices sit.
Price: Prime rib usually goes for between $4 and $6 per pound. Again, plan to buy at least a pound per person for a good meal.
Short loin
You may not have heard of the short loin cut of meat, but it's another part of the cow in which you'll find some of your favorites, such as tenderloin, T-bone and porterhouse.How to cook this cut of meat: These cuts are best presented as steaks and cooked over a dry heat, such as on a grill. Again, let these cuts sit after they've been cooked and cover them so the heat continues to cook and the flavors and juices stay locked inside.
Price: Porterhouse steaks don't come cheap. Expect to pay nearly $1 per ounce for these gems. So a meal for two could easily cost around $40.
Sirloin is a good cut of meat that comes from the lower portion of the animal's ribs, and it's got more of the best cuts out there, such as the tenderloin and the top and bottom sirloins.How to cook this cut of meat: These cuts are pretty versatile. We'd normally recommend slow cooking, but you can grill them as well. Just remember that these cuts come without a bone so they can dry out faster. Be careful with your cooking time, which varies by weight and thickness.
Price: Anywhere from $2 and $4 per pound is a good price for a top sirloin roast. Again, expect to feed each person on a pound of uncooked meat.
A round steak or roast comes from the animal's rump. It's a lean cut with little fat, which makes it a bit tougher than the best cuts listed above. It's a popular cut but can be difficult to cook.How to cook this cut of meat: Because of their lack of fat, rounds aren't great for grilling — they stand up best to braising.
Price: Eye of round, which is one of the best round roasts, can cost up to $5 per pound. Budget one pound per person.
More cuts of meat coming up...


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$3 General Admission$2 for Seniors, Military, and Students (with valid ID)FREE Admission for Brea Residents and Children Under 12
Want to bring a group with you to the gallery? No problem! Feel free to call ahead to let us know when we can expect you. If you would like a staff-guided tour of the exhibition, give us a call to set up your tour date and time at least a week ahead of time. Tour prices may vary.


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Mark Batterson Kicks Off Circle Maker 40-Day Prayer
A 40-day prayer challenge began Wednesday night with a simulcast event featuring teachings on prayer from megachurch pastor Mark Batterson.
The Circle Maker 40 Day Prayer Challenge Simulcast was broadcast live from Batterson's church, National Community Church in Washington, D.C., which is just a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol Building.
"I love leadership. I love discipleship. I love to preach. But it's prayer that is central. When we change the way that we pray, everything changes," said Batterson.
The event was named after his book, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears. In the first century B.C., he says, a drought threatened an entire generation of Israelites, until a man named Honi drew a circle in the sand and told God he would not leave the circle until God showed them mercy.
It began to rain lightly, but Honi stayed put and asked for more. It then rained violently and caused flooding, but he wanted a rain that was not violent and destructive but helpful. After he prayed again, Batterson says, the rain came down in moderation as Honi had asked.
"One prayer saved an entire generation," said Batterson. "Oh yeah, the generation before Jesus."
Prayer is much like a contract, Batterson says. Those who pray in the will of God and for His glory are creating binding contracts backed by Jesus Christ. It is as if God co-signs the contract, and when people pray together it is as if they are notarizing each other's prayers.
Though Batterson signed a physical contract to purchase a crack house, which his church would eventually turn into a coffeehouse in 2002, the spiritual contract had actually been signed years before, he says.
In 1997 he felt as if God was leading him to purchase the building that now contains Ebenezers Coffeehouse as a way of engaging with the community, but his church had few people and little money. The building was priced at $1 million at first, but as a result of his congregation's prayers, he says, they were eventually able to purchase it for $325,000 – and four people offered to pay more money for the building than they did.
"Don't seek opportunity. Seek God and opportunity will seek you," said Batterson.
He also emphasized the importance of acting in faith even before God appears to move. Early in his church's existence Batterson led worship, and during that time he prayed for a drummer to come help him. He felt urged by God to purchase a drum set in advance, believing that God would provide him with percussionist, though he did not want to.
"You know what, I want God to reveal the second step before I take the first step. I want God to go first, because then it doesn't require any faith," he said. "You know what, if you don't take the first step, often … God won't reveal that second step."
He purchased a used drum set, which the church could barely afford, and the following Sunday a U.S. Marine who was in the Drum and Bugle Corps attended his church – his prayers were answered.
In his closing story, Batterson spoke about Rodney "Gipsy" Smith, a British evangelist who preached to millions of people but valued prayer as the thing that makes the most impact.
When sought out by a group of people who wanted to know how to make a difference with their lives, Smith reportedly told them to go home, lock themselves in their bedrooms, draw a circle on the floor using chalk and kneel in the circle. Then, he said, pray that God will send revival within that circle.


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PC Crowd 1 - 0 Everyone Else
Is it just me or is this being a little over-cautious.
I mean the content is a couple of lyrics of an independant song that was licensed for use by Media Molecule.
And this is all because Muslims dont like the Qu'ran to be accompanied by music or re-interpreted and find it highly offensive.
Part of me says this world needs to grow up.
Part of me says this is a little bit of publicity to increase the lauch prowess.
Big Brother specs, because after all he is watching all you do.


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The Boobie Ball 2 is a masquerade fundraiser to benefit the breast cancer fund's Climb Against the Odds program.
Friday May 16th - Doors open at 6:30pm @ Chico Women's Club, 21 & over
Live music by: Alli Battaglia and the Musical Brewing Co., The Mercantiles and Deedee Vest
Silent auction of local art by Daniel Vera and Thomas Barrett, jewelry by Donna Love, Klean Kanteens and many other outdoors equipment. Daniel Vera will also be doing a live painting during the event.
There will be a raffle for 1 VIP pass to California Roots Music Festival valued at $350
Beverages will be served by JB's beverage and bar service. Food by Bacio and Mayhem Gourmet Grilled Cheese food truck will be on sight
Click here for more event info


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Welcome to e[lust] – Your source for sexual intelligence and inspirations of lust from the smartest & sexiest bloggers! Whether you're looking for hot steamy smut, thought-provoking opinions or expert information, you're going to find it here. And in this edition you can read all about the best sexuality conference of the year (ever?), Momentum, in a one-time-only Editor's Choice anomaly: I couldn't choose just one, so I chose them all! Want to be included in e[lust] #26? Start with the rules and subscribe to the RSS feed for updates!
~ This Week's Top Three Posts ~
Where We Are – It was only supposed to be about the fucking. I don't know how I convinced myself that it could be. I fretted before we began, about how I could ever possibly separate sex from emotion.
The Edible Slut – His hand made an audible crack as it connected with her ass, loud in the dim bedroom. Did he really sink his hand into her hair, turn her head to face him, and shout, "Stop being such a brat!"
Beyond Bisexual – I don't identify as bisexual, because I am interested in so many more people than just two of the variety of sexes or genders out there. Except, that is a word that a lot of people understand.
~ Featured: Momentum Conference Posts (Lilly's Picks) ~
An Extraordinary Gathering (and a Gathering of the Extraordinary)
Finally! A Real Momentum Post
Inspired by MomentumCon
#mcon Rehash
Momentumcon, Part One
~ e[lust] Editress ~
To Be or Not To Be….Anonymous, That Is – If you're out or decide to be out….you're not just outing yourself. You're outing them all. And did they give their consent? Probably not, I'd guess. And even if they did give their consent could they even have a clue what consequences there will be?
All blogs that have a submission in this edition must re-post this digest from tip-to-toe on their blogs within 7 days. Thank you, and enjoy!
Thoughts & Advice on Sex & Relationships
A Bump In The Road – A Swinger Party Goes Bad
Bridging the Gap (Between Swinging and BDSM)
Eating Pussy
Jane Says: What Does Sex Feel Like For A Man?
Let's talk about food
Safe Word
S&M And Abuse
The Rules, Revisited
The Wet Patch
Who Cares About Your Open Relationship
Where There's Smoke…
Kink & Fetish
BDSM Advice: Nipple Clamps
Communicating by touch
Consent [Violated]
getting ready…
He mixed pleasure and pain, and my body responded to it all
On Mentoring: Pain
Safety Scissors
Topping From the Bottom: An Ode
Wantonly Restrained
You Can Make It Feel So Real
Erotic Writing
3. Wrath
Cunt Licking
Definition of Inspiration
Miss Me?
My Sex Life: The Journey Continues, Part 2
Silk Memories
Sexy Dance-Ing
teacher sweaters and the cock that haunts me
The Casino
The miseducation of Ms. Mullins
Wow. Confession #558
When I come
You Want This


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Invention of Lying, The
Ricky Gervais is, if nothing else, a pragmatic person. He was the co-creator and star of The Office on BBC television. The faux documentary skewered the modern workplace and the personalities in it and was savagely funny. He followed it up with Extras, which appeared on HBO and took aim at celebrity-dom and those who inhabit it, along with one man's quest for fame while still maintaining creative integrity. Both shows exhibited a sense of awkward humor in them. Both had a character would say or do something that would unknowingly spit in the face of better judgment, while the viewer would laugh while watching the character try to wriggle out of their predicament. And sadly both were ended at Gervais' request after two seasons.
But for the hilarious television shows and equally hilarious podcasts with writing partner Steven Merchant (not to mention their orange-shaped head having, mouth-breathing engineer Karl Pilkington), Gervais was certainly taking his time in coming over to America to start using his comedic gravitas to full effect. He'd appeared in other shows here and there, but his movie career had essentially been limited to a role in the Christopher Guest ensemble comedy For Your Consideration and as a museum director in both Night at the Museum films. And his first starring role in 2008's Ghost Town had its moments, but all of these films had none of Gervais' voice in them. But in The Invention of Lying, Gervais co-wrote and co-directed the film with Matthew Robinson and it serves as his first real foray into American films, on his terms.
Gervais plays Mark Bellison, who is a screenwriter for a movie studio. He's in a bit of a rut lately - his most recent blind date, Anna (Jennifer Garner, Alias) don't want anything to do with him, and his films about the 13th century just aren't palatable; who wants to see a film about the Black Plague? - but his larger problem is the world he lives in. Since the dawn of time, nobody has said a lie. Not a little white one, not a bold-faced one. That makes writing films about the Black Plague particularly tough. So when he's fired for his unsuccessful work, it's something that everyone can see coming due to the lack of sugarcoating in the world. His increasing dissatisfaction with how people tell the truth allows him to take advantage of an opportunity to reap a financial windfall at banks and casinos in town. He gets his job back and tells a gloriously fictional story about the 13th century, which delights his boss (Jeffrey Tambor, Arrested Development and irritates his rival (Rob Lowe, The West Wing).
Things are going great for Mark and this lying thing he's got going. But he runs into difficulties with it when his mother (Fionnula Flanagan, The Others) is dying, and he says a few harmless words to put her fears to rest. A rapt medical staff listens to Mark's words and believe that he's an oracle, a prophet sent to tell them what happens after they die, and what the "Man in the Sky" does while they're living as well. Mark doesn't care about the questions being asked, he just wants to comfort his dying mother and perhaps win Anna's attention. The latter part is tougher because while Mark's got lots of money, they're having children would likely result in fat kids with stubby noses.
When seeing the trailers for this before and after it was released, I wasn't sure quite what to expect for it, and was almost disappointed by it, due to Gervais' prodigious talents. And unlike many previews that promise much and deliver on the opposite, this is the exception to the rule. The film was marketed as a romantic comedy, and there are large components of that here, though it's overshadowed by excellent observational humor on religion, along with the possible ramifications of uttering a lie.
The film also does an excellent job in creating the atmosphere of a place that only tells the truth. Gervais (who has written a series of childrens' books to go along with his resume) illustrates the world around him deftly, and putting himself into the position of being the only one capable of telling a lie allows him to experience the same components of comedy found in his previous work also. Garner continues to develop into an excellent dramatic actress, and the small galaxy of comedy actors the film employs (including Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and Louis C.K. among others) helps round out an outstanding cast. Blink and you'll even miss two separate appearances by an Oscar-winning actor.
The Invention of Lying is a brilliantly funny film by arguably the best voice out there today, and addresses issues far larger than you expect coming into it. Moments like that are special and should be treasured, and Gervais' talent makes me look forward to what he can do with future films when given the time to shape them into something more personally desirable. The fact that it was terribly mismarketed shouldn't dissuade you from seeing it and being wowed by what it brings to the table.
The Blu-ray Disc:Video:
Warner gives The Invention of Lying the 1080p treatment with a VC-1 encode in 1.85:1 widescreen. The results are OK though hardly anything worth writing home about. There are occasional moments when the Massachusetts landscape gets a chance or two to show off, though it doesn't present much background depth and detail you'd expect. Image detail wavers for long portions of the film; sometime I can spot (and was oddly mesmerized) by the freckles on Louis C.K.'s shoulders, other times on shots of one actor, the image looked soft and lifeless, much like its star (zing!). Any improvements over the standard definition disc are presumably marginal and should be considered accordingly.
Sound:The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is largely wasted on the film. There's very little sonic action, and as a result you're left cranking the receiver up to uncertain levels, waiting for a crash or bang to jolt you into turning it down, but it never happens. Nothing in the way of noticeable directional sound activity or effective speaker panning, and the subwoofer stays silent for the run of the film. Don't come here expecting to get blown away by the technical quality of the disc.
Extras:The funniest extra in this paltry group is when Karl comes to America to appear as an extra in the film (17:48). If you want to know about Gervais' fascination with Karl, you get a shining example here, as he shares his thoughts about traveling from England, the film business and working with Gervais. Gervais also discusses the concept for the movie here as well. Karl's appearance is for a "dawn of man" sequence that was to appear in the film but was cut. That sequence is here on the disc, with narration by Ian McKellen to boot (6:30). It's funny in parts, but completely understandable why it was cut. Five additional scenes are next (7:12), they include more comic stylings from Guest and Mr. C.K. "A Truly 'Honest' Making-of Featurette" (7:17) allows the cast to share their thoughts on Gervais, his laugh, and the art of "corpsing," when Gervais can't keep a scene together before laughing. A longer reel of corpsing and outtakes follows (5:33). Gervais and Robinson produced four video podcasts (9:59) which show them working and generally goofing around during the production. There's also a digital copy available for download on a second disc, if you're so inclined.
Final Thoughts:The Invention of Lying is clever, hilarious and according to Gervais, a "high-concept romantic comedy." Its jabs are subtle and its intentions are honorable, and you're left discussing the higher impact of some of its themes when you're done with it. You'll also want to see it again because of some of the quick secondary jokes you might have missed while laughing. Fans of Gervais and for smart comedies should definitely pick this up, and those who want a change of pace in a normally drab genre will appreciate the change of pace.
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TechRadar Verdict
If you want a budget tablet for the house, that everyone in the family can use, then this is one of the better choices available.
- +
Attractive and cheap
- +
MicroSD connection
- +
Ice Cream Sandwich
- +
Acer Ring
- -
Bulky and heavy
- -
No rear camera
- -
No HDMI
- -
Screen's a bit dark
Why you can trust TechRadar
The Acer Iconia Tab A200 is one of three new tablets from Acer in 2012, and the runt of the litter.
Priced at £279.99 in the UK and $329.99 in the US, this 10.1-inch tablet packs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and serves as a budget option for anyone who doesn't fancy paying out for the new iPad 3 or other top-tier Android tablets such as the Asus Transformer Prime or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Acer's other two new tablets are the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and the premium Acer Iconia Tab A700, but it's the cheaper Acer A200 that could cause the biggest stir among those searching for an affordable tablet.
Acer is obviously pitching the A200 at families and first-time tablet buyers. The Acer Iconia Tab A200 wears its family-friendly persona on its sleeve, with a friendly curved rectangle form factor and a soft, rubber-coated back that reminds us more than a little of the BlackBerry PlayBook.
It's available in two colours; the standard Titanium Grey and the much-better-looking-in-our-opinion Metallic Red.
As ever with budget tablets, there are some corners being cut. That's no different with the Acer Iconia Tab A200, and the eagle-eyed among you will have noted the lack of a rear-facing camera lens in our pictures.
Acer has stripped out the camera, as well as other features such as HDMI connectivity, to keep the costs down.
However, it has kept both a full-sized USB port and micro USB and the option to expand the 8GB of storage with a MicroSD card. In the US, 16GB versions are also available, for $349.99.
Also, the Acer Iconia Tab A200 isn't exactly what you'd call lithe. At a chunky 12mm thick, it's a big difference from the 8.8mm iPad 2 or the 7.7mm Toshiba AT200.
The Acer Iconia Tab A200 also weighs 715g, which is heavier than both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (565g) and the iPad 2 (601g) - and the difference is obvious. This feels solid, but not obviously a tablet that you could just scoop up and use.
The big selling point of the Acer Iconia Tab A200, though, is the fact that it ships directly with Android Ice Cream Sandwich. And Google's latest update works well, with plenty of small tweaks such as the ability to load apps into folders and save web pages for viewing offline at a later date.
It's not like Acer has really skimped on the specs under the hood either. There's an Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, built-in GPS support, 1280 x 800 screen resolution and support for the Google Play app store.
It's far from competing with the likes of the Asus Transformer Prime or the new iPad, but as a budget option, the Acer A200 doesn't do much wrong.
It concentrates on the main things you want to use a tablet for - browsing the web, watching movies and playing Draw Something. All of which it handles nicely for a budget device.